Extinction : Science World Report

Sep 17, 2014 07:03 AM EDT

Massive Impact May Have Doomed the Dinosaurs, But it Jumpstarted Flowering Plants

It turns out that the massive impact that helped cause dinosaurs become extinct 66 million years ago may have also giving flowering plants the chance they needed to replace slow-growing evergreens.

Sep 09, 2014 08:11 AM EDT

Egyptian Artifacts Reveal Ecological Collapse and Mammal Extinctions Over 6,000 Years of History

Scientists have learned a bit more about Egypt's ancient ecological past by examining depictions of animals in ancient Egyptian artifacts. Now, researchers have announced that species extinctions probably made the ecosystem progressively less stable over time.

Sep 05, 2014 10:21 AM EDT

Majority of Threatened African Amphibians May be 'Invisible' Under Climate Change

It turns out that the majority of threatened species are "invisible" when using modern methods to predict species distributions under climate change. This is especially true when it comes to African amphibians, many of which are under the threat of extinction.

Sep 03, 2014 06:59 AM EDT

Extinctions During the Human Era are 1000 Times More Frequent Now Than Before

It turns out the current global extinction rate is far more devastating than first thought. Scientists have found out that species die off as much as 1,000 times more frequently today than they used to. That's 10 times worse than the previous estimate of 100 times.

Aug 28, 2014 01:47 PM EDT

Comet Impact May Have Left Layer of Nanodiamonds Across Earth

Scientists have taken a closer look at a cosmic impact and have examined the character and distribution of nanodiamonds, one type of material produced during this collision.

Jul 11, 2014 09:31 AM EDT

Extinct 'Fearsome' Sea Scorpion had Bad Eyes for Seeing Prey

The largest arthropod that ever lived is a massive sea scorpion, which once swam through the seas and hunted its prey. Now, though, scientists have found out that these sea scorpions weren't the fearsome predators that they once thought they were.

May 31, 2014 06:49 AM EDT

Australia's Deadly Volcanic Eruptions Caused the World's First Mass Extinction

About 510 million years ago, volcanic eruptions in Australia spewed ash and greenhouse gases into the air. Now, scientists have found that they may have been the cause of the first known mass extinction in the history of complex life.

Apr 23, 2014 12:14 PM EDT

How Cougars Survived a Mass Extinction While the Saber-Tooth Cat Perished

Cougars survived the mass extinction that took place about 12,000 years ago while the saber-tooth cat and American lion went extinct. Now, scientists have discovered how cougars managed to endure while their cousins perished.

Mar 31, 2014 09:47 PM EDT

The Greatest Mass Extinction May Have Been the Doing of Microbes

The worst time to be alive in Earth’s history is unarguably the end-Permian, about 250 million years ago. It is the period when the greatest-ever extinction event recorded took place, killing 97% of all species, an event so severe it has been called The Great Dying.

Feb 28, 2014 01:17 PM EST

Northern White Rhinos Face Imminent Extinction, Last Remain in Africa

Five years ago the Lewa Conservancy in Kenya airlifted the remaining four breeding Northern White Rhinos from a zoo in the Czech Republic. Their goal was to have them roam in the wild to encourage them to breed and repopulate the species.

Feb 10, 2014 08:45 PM EST

MIT: Earth’s End-Permian Mass Extinction Occurred More Quickly Than First Thought

Researchers believe that the catastrophic mass extinction happened much more quickly than previously believed.

Feb 06, 2014 08:48 PM EST

Woolly Mammoth's Flower Diet may have Caused Animals Extinction

Though we've never seen this mammoth species alive and in person, most of us are familiar with the majestic extinct elephant genus-the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius.) Yet recent research suggests that one of earths largest, hairiest creatures may have gone extinct based on its tiny flower di...